With the Washington Capitals out on the West Coast with just seven defensemen and Mike Green still ailing due to an inner ear problem, the Caps have recalled blue liner Patrick McNeill from the Hershey Bears. P-Mac played last season’s AHL Finals with an injured shoulder and he underwent off season surgery. He tallied twice in the Bears 4-0 title clinching game over the Texas Stars. As a result of his injury he did not suit up for Hershey this season until mid-December. Below is more info on McNeill from the Capitals press release:

McNeill, 23, registered 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) and 16 penalty minutes in 26 games with the Bears this season. The 6’0, 198-pound defenseman has played in 182 career AHL games with Hershey and could make his NHL debut tomorrow night as the Capitals play against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center.

McNeill collected 35 points (eight goals, 27 assists) in 62 games with Hershey last season, almost doubling his point total from the previous season. His 27 assists and 35 points ranked second on the team among defensemen behind John Carlson. In addition, McNeill registered six points (three goals, three assists) in 11 playoff games to help Hershey win the Calder Cup.

McNeill, who wears No. 46 with the Capitals, was Washington’s fourth-round choice (118th overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

Washington Capitals to Visit Baltimore Youth Hockey

The Washington Capitals youth hockey office and members of the Capitals alumni, including Peter Bondra, Alan Hangsleben, Yvon Labre, Gord Lane and Gary Rissling, will visit Baltimore’s Mimi DiPietro Family Skating Center on Wednesday, Feb. 16 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. for an on-ice clinic with 40 children from the area.

Each Sunday the Baltimore Youth Hockey Club puts on an ice hockey experience for dozen of underprivileged boys and girls from East and Southeast Baltimore. The 15-week program focuses on hockey instructions and team building for boys and girls ages seven to 14 in a safe, stable and fun environment. The children are outfitted and loaned new and used hockey equipment for their use throughout the program. At the end of the clinic the Washington Capitals and the NHL, as part of the USA Hockey ONE GOAL program, will donate 40 sets of hockey equipment to the Mount Pleasant and Mimi DiPietro ice rinks for the Baltimore Youth Hockey Club.

“As we continue to face budget deficits that threaten the expansion of recreational activities for our most vulnerable young people, I am extremely pleased to be able to join with the Washington Capitals in a partnership that will benefit our city’s youth for years to come,” said Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young.

This is part of the Capitals and the NHL’s Hockey is for Everyone Month. Hockey is for Everyone initiative provides support to developmental ice hockey and street hockey programs as a positive and meaningful outlet for children and young teens to learn, compete and grow. The initiative provides access to unique hockey experiences to more than 300,000 children annually in more than 30 non-profit youth ice hockey organizations, and 1,600 schools and community centers across North American as part of the NHL Street grass roots program.

COMMENT: You cannot deny the Capitals popularity in the Baltimore area and it is nice to see them giving back to the Baltimore community. Caps owner Ted Leonsis clearly gets it.